hello hello

happy saturday everyone!

Been a pretty challenging week for me in Mysore. Was pretty sick from Monday til today with body aches, stuff nose, sore throat, the whole nine....And of course I had commited myself to do a liver cleanse beginning on Sunday last week. For six days I had to drink 32 ounces of apple juice, cut back on fats, proteins, milk...and then yesterday fast and drink epsom salts, and then the infamous shake in the evening. Thankful it is over now and I'm feeling better - totally think the liver cleanse was worth it, but I now detest apple juice!

Laying low today and doing a bit of organizing and packing. Look forward to tomorrow's led second class and hopefully conference in the afternoon. Getting really excited to get home on the 9th! Cannot wait to see everyone I have only been thinking about and talking to for nine months!

Have a great Saturday ahead!

Thought for the day!

This came from my friend Sasha - I nearly died laughing!

Man driving down road, Woman driving up same road. They pass each other. The woman yells out the window, PIG! Manyells out window, BITCH! Man rounds next curve. Man crashes into a HUGE PIG in middle of road and dies.
Thought For the Day: If men would just listen

The Countdown Begins

Happy Sunday!

I have been in a whirlwind this week - SOOOO much going on....Zee blog was neglected a bit but all is good ;)

Last week was full of energy, surprises, work, and emotion. Full on ;) As it is now Sunday, that means that two weeks from today I'll be getting on a plane headed home. I'm beginning to get really excited to get back to America, but still feel a bit like its months away. These next two weeks will surely fly by and I'll be home before I know it thinking, "where the heck has nine months gone?" I am really ready though and cannot wait to see my family, Kwang and my dear friends. It has been far too long.

The rest of this year promises to be really interesting, extremely exciting, incredibly challenging, and all together life changing ;) I am so down!
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Today's led second was good - HARD but good. I've been having alot of pain in my lower back for a few weeks now and I am trying to work through the pain - it is present all the time, but especially painful during Kapotasana and backbends. My new mantra during practice....SURRENDER....SURRENDER....SURRENDER....to the pain! I am hopeful this is 'an opening' - I am positive things are changing and moving - just cannot wait til the pain lessons and I can see the change and the reasons behind it.

Just got back from conference. Sharath spoke today on the breath...How important the Ujjayi breathing is for our practice....Many other styles of asana do not focus on breathing...but it is the essence of Ashtanga Yoga. He spoke of the importance of the breath in finding a meditation practice during asana, importance of breath to help deal with pain, importance of breath to properly conduct asana practice. He also spoke of family. He believes we should all get married and have children. And that we should devote our lives to our spouse and family and practice. Sharath told us several fun stories...some relating to his practice years ago....some about his children and how he only thought he was going to have one child but Guruji insisted he have two...A really lovely conference on a really lovely day in Gokulam!
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I'll spend the rest of my day doing a bit of work and a bit of relaxing. How will you spend your Sunday?

Vantage Point

Amazing quote - My friend Nicole sent this to me and I couldn't help but share with all of you ;)

From people who have difficult problems, innovations are born. From people who are bored and dissatisfied, creativity flowers.Great accomplishments do not come from people who wait until conditions are perfect. Great accomplishments come from those who are determined to begin working, right here and right now, to make things better.Even in the deepest adversity, life's immense value persists and endures. From that adversity, great strength can grow.It is when times are difficult that you most profoundly realize how great life can be. It is when life's best possibilities are impossibly far away that you can comprehend their magnificent brilliance.Life's burdens provide a unique and powerful vantage point. In the midst of those burdens, not only can you see the way forward, you become fully committed to making the best possibilities real.From the vantage point of adversity, chart your course to a life that's richer than anything you've yet known. And feel the power as you do indeed make it real.

-- Ralph Marston

Are you wasting money on multivitamins?

Hmm....been taking my multi for YEARS....You?

Article

25 ways to tell you're grown up

From me dear ole mom ;)

Just sent her an email asking her what it means when 17 of these 25 apply to me...Waiting to hear back from her!

25 Ways to Tell You're Grown Up (source unknown)

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.

2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.

4. 6am is when you get up, not when you go to bed.

5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator..

6. You watch the weather channel.

7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and"break up".

8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14 days.

9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up".

10. You're the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next doorwon't turn down the stereo.

11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.

12. You don't know what time the mall closes anymore.

13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.

14. You feed your dog science diet instead of McDonald's.

15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.

16. You take naps.

17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.

18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 am would severely upset, rather thansettle, your stomach.

19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid not condoms andpregnancy test.

20. A $4 bottle of wine is no long "Pretty good sh!t".

21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.

22. "I just can't drink the way I used to," replaces "I'm never going to drink that much again. "

23. 90% of the time you spend in the front of a computer is for real work.

24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.

25. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead ofasking "Oh sh!t, what the hell happened?"

BONUS26. You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that doesn'tapply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old ass.

Project Guru

Please take a moment and check out Project Guru

Change

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol

Happy Sunday! I'm sitting at my computer about to call my sister and I realized its been a few days since I blogged...There has been a whole lot of stuff going on in my lil world the last week or so, and I almost forgot how much I truly enjoy writing...beit in this blog, in my diary, whatever...One thing that always brings about inspiration for me are quotes...I used to go searching online each day for quotes that related to themes in my life at that moment....This moment is about change...Change is occuring all around me right now...I am changing, things are changing, my life is changing, and soon my surroundings will change as well. At the end of the day, change is good, change is constant, change is necessary. But I am recently dealing with some changes that I didn't think would ever exist in my life and that is something I am finding difficult to accept, to process, to understand. However, just as change is constant, so too is time...And in my life I have found that time truly does help heal...So while I may not like some of the recent changes, in time I will be just fine ;)

I'll leave you with a quote I found from Alice Walker....When I found this I felt that it hit home with me quite strongly...

"No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow." - Alice Walker

Happy Friday!

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." - Alan Cohen
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Good morning :)

It's nearly 8am here in Mysore. Had the good ole weekly led primary today. Wasn't in the ladies locker room, but sure felt like I was inside a sardine can! Man was it PACKED in the shala...I was next to the wall in the back corner near the office, and the yogini to my left was literally practicing on top of me. oh well, what to do!

I feel far more energetic today than I've felt in weeks - and for that I'm extremely grateful! I don't have a lot planned for today - and for that I'm extremely grateful :)

I may or may not make it to the pool this afternoon - been several weeks since I paid my respects to the sun! I will take a nice long bike ride at some point today on Miss India Gold...I will meet with Anu this afternoon to do some photos of her dishes for her upcoming cookbook...I will do a bit of work on my website...And that's all I intend to do with my friday! Glorious to feel like the day hasn't already been eaten up with obligations ;)
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The Onion

I have to give credit to my friend Ethan for this post....He has introduced me to the Onion!

PLEASE BE FOREWARNED - IF YOU DO NOT LIKE PROFANITY, PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THIS NEWS CAST FROM THE ONION!!!

If you are not offended by excessive use of curse words, you will find this video very entertaining.

Today's Post

After a comment from an annoymous person I feel the need to explain that anything on my blog written in Orange is a link - so please take note that anything in Orange is a link. Thus, the Orange Link - 15 companies that might not survive 2009 (Below the purple title 15 Companies that might not survive 2009) is a link to the actual article, where you will find any and all information about the article.

In a wee rush I didn't quote the author in the post directly, but felt posting the link directly to the article was enough. But just in case you didn't understand the orange link was a link, the author was Rick Newman! Mr. Newman, all due respect to you man!

;)

15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009

15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009

Who's next?
With consumers shutting their wallets and corporate revenues plunging, the business landscape may start to resemble a graveyard in 2009. Household names like Circuit City and Linens 'n Things have already perished. And chances are, those bankruptcies were just an early warning sign of a much broader epidemic.

Moody's Investors Service, for instance, predicts that the default rate on corporate bonds - which foretells bankruptcies - will be three times higher in 2009 than in 2008, and 15 times higher than in 2007. That could equate to 25 significant bankruptcies per month.
We examined ratings from Moody's and data from other sources to develop a short list of potential victims that ought to be familiar to most consumers. Many of these firms are in industries directly hit by the slowdown in consumer spending, such as retail, automotive, housing and entertainment.

But there are other common threads. Most of these firms have limited cash for a rainy day, and a lot of debt, with large interest payments due over the next year. In ordinary times, it might not be so hard to refinance loans, or get new ones, to help keep the cash flowing. But in an acute credit crunch it's a different story, and at companies where sales are down and going lower, skittish lenders may refuse to grant any more credit. It's a terrible time to be cash-poor.

[See how Wall Street continues to doom itself.]

That's why Moody's assigns most of these firms its lowest rating for short-term liquidity. And all the firms on this list have long-term debt that Moody's rates Caa or lower, which means the borrower is considered at least a "very high" credit risk.
Once a company defaults on its debt, or fails to make a payment, the next step is usually a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Some firms continue to operate while in Chapter 11, retaining many of their employees. Those firms often shed debt, restructure, and emerge from bankruptcy as healthier companies.

But it takes fresh financing to do that, and with money scarce, more bankrupt firms than usual are likely to liquidate - like Circuit City. That's why corporate failures are likely to be a major drag on the economy in 2009: In a liquidation, the entire workforce often gets axed, with little or no severance. That will only add to unemployment, which could hit 9 or even 10 percent by the end of the year.

[Want to land a plum job without paying taxes? Here's how.]

It's possible that none of the firms on this list will liquidate, or even declare Chapter 11. Some may come up with unexpected revenue or creative financing that helps avert bankruptcy, while others could be purchased in whole or in part by creditors or other investors. But one way or another, the following 15 firms will probably look a lot different a year from now than they do today:

Rite Aid. (Ticker symbol: RAD; about 100,000 employees; 1-year stock-price decline: 92%). This drugstore chain tried to boost its performance by acquiring competitors Brooks and Eckerd in 2007. But there have been some nasty side effects, like a huge debt load that makes it the most leveraged drugstore chain in the U.S., according to Zacks Equity Research. That big retail investment came just as megadiscounter Wal-Mart was starting to sell prescription drugs, and consumers were starting to cut bank on spending. Management has twice lowered its outlook for 2009. Prognosis: Mounting losses, with no turnaround in sight.

Claire's Stores. (Privately owned; about 18,000 employees.) Leon Black's once-renowned private-equity firm, the Apollo Group, paid $3.1 billion for this trendy teen-focused accessory store in 2007, when buyout funds were bulging. But cash flow has been negative for much of the past year and analysts believe Claire's is close to defaulting on its debt. A horrible retail outlook for 2009 offers no relief, suggesting Claire's could follow Linens 'n Things - another Apollo purchase - and declare Chapter 11, possibly shuttering all of its 3,000-plus stores.

[See 5 pieces missing from Obama's stimulus plan.]

Chrysler. (Privately owned; about 55,000 employees). It's never a good sign when management insists the company is not going out of business, which is what CEO Bob Nardelli has been doing lately. Of the three Detroit automakers, Chrysler is the most endangered, with a product portfolio that's overreliant on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs and almost totally devoid of compelling small cars. A recent deal with Fiat seems dubious, since the Italian automaker doesn't have to pony up any money, and Chrysler desperately needs cash. The company is quickly burning through $4 billion in government bailout money, and with car sales down 40 percent from recent peaks, Chrysler may be the weakling that can't cut it in tough times.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. (DTG; about 7,000 employees; stock down 95%). This car-rental company is a small player compared to Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis Budget. It's also more reliant on leisure travelers, and therefore more susceptible to a downturn as consumers cut spending. Dollar Thrifty is also closely tied to Chrysler, which supplies 80 percent of its fleet. Moody's predicts that if Chrysler declares Chapter 11, Dollar Thrifty would suffer deeply as well.
Realogy Corp. (Privately owned; about 13,000 employees). It's the biggest real-estate brokerage firm in the country, but that's a bad thing when there are double-digit declines in both sales and prices, as there were in 2009. Realogy, which includes the Coldwell Banker, ERA, and Sotheby's franchises, also carries a high debt load, dating to its purchase by the Apollo Group in 2007 - the very moment when the housing market was starting to invert from a soaring ride into a sickening nosedive. Realogy has been trying to refinance much of its debt, prompting lawsuits. One deal was denied by a judge in December, reducing the firm's already tight wiggle room.

[See why "Wall Street talent" is an oxymoron.]

Station Casinos. (Privately owned, about 14,000 employees). Las Vegas has already been creamed by a biblical real-estate bust, and now it may face the loss of its home-grown gambling joints, too. Station - which runs 15 casinos off the strip that cater to locals - recently failed to make a key interest payment, which is often one of the last steps before a Chapter 11 filing. For once, the house seems likely to lose.

Loehmann's Capital Corp. (Privately owned; about 1,500 employees). This clothing chain has the right formula for lean times, offering women's clothing at discount prices. But the consumer pullback is hitting just about every retailer, and Loehmann's has a lot less cash to ride out a drought than competitors like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. If Loehmann's doesn't get additional financing in 2009 - a dicey proposition, given skyrocketing unemployment and plunging spending - the chain could run out of cash.

Sbarro. (Privately owned; about 5,500 employees). It's not the pizza that's the problem. Many of this chain's 1,100 storefronts are in malls, which is a double whammy: Traffic is down, since consumers have put away their wallets. Sbarro can't really boost revenue by adding a breakfast or late-night menu, like other chains have done. And competitors like Domino's and Pizza Hut have less debt and stronger cash flow, which could intensify pressure on Sbarro as key debt payments come due in 2009.

Six Flags. (SIX; about 30,000 employees; stock down 84%). This theme-park operator has been losing money for several years, and selling off properties to try to pay down debt and get back into the black. But the ride may end prematurely. Moody's expects cash flow to be negative in 2009, and if consumers aren't spending during the peak summer season, that could imperil the company's ability to pay debts coming due later this year and in 2010.

Blockbuster. (BBI; about 60,000 employees; stock down 57%). The video-rental chain has burned cash while trying to figure out how to maximize fees without alienating customers. Its operating income has started to improve just as consumers are cutting back, even on movies. Video stores in general are under pressure as they compete with cable and Internet operators offering the same titles. A key test of Blockbuster's viability will come when two credit lines expire in August. One possible outcome, according to Valueline, is that investors take the company private and then go public again when market conditions are better.

Krispy Kreme. (KKD; about 4,000 employees; stock down 50%). The donuts might be good, but Krispy Kreme overestimated Americans' appetite - and that's saying something. This chain overexpanded during the donut heyday of the 1990s - taking on a lot of debt - and now requires high volumes to meet expenses and interest payments. The company has cut costs and closed underperforming stores, but still hasn't earned an operating profit in three years. And now that consumers are cutting back on everything, such improvements may fail to offset top-line declines, leading Krispy Kreme to seek some kind of relief from lenders over the next year.
Landry's Restaurants. (LNY; about 17,000 employees; stock down 66%). This restaurant chain, which operates Chart House, Rainforest Café, and other eateries, needs $400 million in new financing to finalize a buyout deal dating to last June. If lenders come through, the company should have enough cash to ride out the recession. But at least two banks have already balked, leading to downgrades of the company's debt and the prospect of a cash-flow crunch.

Sirius Satellite Radio. (SIRI - parent company; about 1,000 employees; stock down 96%). The music rocks, but satellite radio has yet to be profitable, and huge contracts for performers like Howard Stern are looking unsustainable. Sirius is one of two satellite-radio services owned by parent company Sirius XM, which was formed when Sirius and XM merged last year. So far, the merger hasn't generated the savings needed to make the company profitable, and Moody's thinks there's a "high likelihood" that Sirius will fail to repay or refinance its debt in 2009. One outcome could be a takeover, at distressed prices, by other firms active in the satellite business.
Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings. (TRMP; about 9,500 employees; stock down 94%). The casino company made famous by The Donald has received several extensions on interest payments, while it tries to sell at least one of its Atlantic City properties and pay down a stack of debt. But with casino buyers scarce, competition circling, and gamblers nursing their losses from the recession, Trump Entertainment may face long odds of skirting bankruptcy.

BearingPoint. (BGPT; about 16,000 employees; stock down 21%). This Virginia-based consulting firm, spun out of KPMG in 2001, is struggling to solve its own operating problems. The firm has consistently lost money, revenue has been falling, and management stopped issuing earnings guidance in 2008. Stable government contracts generate about 30 percent of the firm's business, but the firm may sell other divisions to help pay off debt. With a key interest payment due in April, management needs to hustle - or devise its own exit strategy.
- With Carol Hook, Danielle Burton and Stephanie Salmon

No Conference this week

Hello and Happy Moonday Monday ;)

Melissa hunny I am sorry to say there was no conference yesterday....We will have to wait til next Sunday for a little inspiration from Sharath ;)

Sharath made the announcement at the end of practice yesterday as I was lying down for Shavasana. I stayed in corpse posture for what felt like an eternity - my body was utterly exhausted. I woke up on Sunday feeling a bit off, achy and stiff...Practice was hard b/c of it too - couldn't seem to get warm, or open at all...And wouldn't you know the day I was feeling so crappy....Sharath gave me Nakrasana. I finished Mayurasana and started to do a sun salute to the floor and Sharath said, "Krista you do one more." I wasn't ready for a new asana on Sunday, didn't expect it, but should have known if I got a new posture ever, it would be during led second. I'm nearly positive that every posture I've been given since Eka Pada has been given to me in a led second class....Hmm....

After I finished practice yesterday I slowly made my way home - where I remained til about 5pm...I was in bad sorts nearly the whole day...just not feeling well at all! A little before 5pm Laura came over and got me out of the house - we went for a nice long bike ride to some really remote and gorgeous areas out of mysore. I came home last night fully exhausted and feeling much better than I had most of the day :)

Had a nice lie in today, which was followed by a pediucure, a dental appt, and now some good ole emailing.

lookie - finally posting a picture of Miss India Gold for your viewing pleasure - this is my new love ;)

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

Happy Friday ;)

Hope you enjoy this day to the fullest! I know it is extremely cold in some parts of the world (Kwang says Florida is freezing, and Susan says Edinburgh is off the charts!), but I must admit that Mysore is simply perfect! Sorry guys ;) Seriously, the weather couldn't be better - its cool in the morning and evening, and quite warm during the day. So along with my good energy I'll try to send some warm weather your way guys!

Life in Mysore has been awesome the last few days! Practice has been really amazing each day since my extremely difficult practice on Tuesday ;) Wednesday afternoon I took the most glorious 2 1/2 hour bike ride around Mysore. I didn't intend to go for such a long ride but I got carried away by the scenery, the wind in my face, the weather, and the tunes on my ipod. I was utterly exhausted by the time I got home and had no trouble falling asleep that night. The next morning my body was a wee bit tight from the ride...After dropbacks Sharath smiled and said, "too much walking yesterday." I didn't have the heart to do anything but smile.

I'm gonna leave you with the contents of an email my dear mother sent to me today...A forewarning, I nearly wet myself reading this email - HILARIOUS! Thanks mama!
To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity
1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice!
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, ask If They Want Fries with that.
4. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks . Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.
5. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana'
6. Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.
7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
8. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.
9. Sing Along At The Opera.
10. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.
11. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'
12. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'
13. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'
And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity 14. PICK UP A BOX OF CONDOMS AT THE PHARMACY, GO TO THE COUNTER AND ASK WHERE THE FITTING ROOM IS.

Delicious

Getting on my mat was quite different today from yesterday! Thanks goodness! I woke up feeling lighter and less aggitated...had a nice walk to the shala...had the fortune of watching my dear friend Pam working on her second series practice while I waited for a spot in the shala...Got on my mat with a clear mind and spent a few moments giving my practice away to those I love dearly...I reminded myself today was about surrender, surrender to the practice, surrender to my breath and body and spirit...Then I quietly chanted the opening mantra...The rest of practice is a big sweaty blur ;) SIMPLY DELICIOUS! Pracitce was light and agile today - I felt less pain in my back than I have in a long time - I felt less dizzy than I have as of recent - I felt totally connected to my body via my breath...Breath was so solid and yet so subtle...Bandhas were full on but not agressively so...and most importantly, my mind was so free of thought, free of distraction...It all ended with a sweet relaxing shavasana!

I wish everyone a wonderful Wednesday ;)

women drivers!

Hello from the 'Sore

Happy Tuesday evening, perhaps morning or afternoon!

I have been a bit slack on the blog as of recent as I've had an uber busy couple days in the Sore! Practice has been intense, massage busy, working on website, photos, reading....filling the days but they seem to go by so quickly!

On Sunday led second was really wonderful - hard, but a good hard...I spent the afternoon with Kumar in an energy healing session, which was way more intense than I imagined it would be - all good but the effects of the session have been increasing with each passing day. After my session with Kumar I headed off to conference, which is always a pleasure - Sharath had a lot of insightful things to share - the message that hit home for me the most was that we must surrender in order to grow - couldn't have said it better!

Yesterday I had the most amazing practice I've had in years! Seriously! Think a combination of reasons - resonance with Sharath's words during conference, the session with Kumar, a good night's sleep.....It was incredible! Noteworthy above all was shavasana - and not because it was shavasana, but because I was able to use some of the relaxation techniques I learned in my session with Kumar to allow my body to completely relax during shavasana - something that normally DOESN'T happen to me! The rest of the day followed suit to my practice - totally enjoyable, full of surrender and relaxation and fulfillment and productivity. Did some emails, had a lovely breakfast at Tina's, biked into and around the city with Laura, gave a massage, did some errands in the city, and then had a delightful dinner with Laura and Clara - an all around perfect day if there ever was such a thing!

Today.....oh today is such a different story. I've been getting really dizzy in practice the last few weeks, some days better than others. Today I felt dizzy all practice and couldn't get focused on 'the practice' at all b/c i was too concerned with not fainting and falling over onto someone next to me. It was really odd and extremely uncomfortable - one of those days where I felt like all I could do was focus on getting to the end of it....And after practice I came home to a two hour arguement with Kwang - a healthy one - a long overdue one - but an arguement nonetheless...We haven't argued in a very very long time, and for those of you who know us, that is not like us not to argue at least once every two weeks or so - both so firey and open about our feelings and all...was really good for both of us to get things off our chest - and it doesn't help that we miss each other terribly and want to see each other...
You know it seems so amazing to me how your practice mirrors your life and vice versa - ah this incredible yoga - I can't imagine my life without it. Even days like today make me so grateful to be lucky enough to have found this practice this lifetime - such an amazing teacher!

Wish you all a wonderful day wherever you are - and remember to get on your mat!